Acetabular cup body prosthesis

ABSTRACT

An improved acetabular cup prosthesis has a cup body with correspondingly shaped inner convex and outer concave surfaces. A polymer liner fits and attaches to the cup at the concave surface. The inner convex surface is highly polished and mirror-like, for retarding debris generation with the polymer liner and allowing optical pattern inspection. A plurality of bores can be provided, extending between an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface, wherein the bores can function as drill guides for providing alignment in the drilling of surgical openings after the acetabular cup body is placed in a patient. A plurality of pegs or spikes have proximate end portions that have connection members for forming connections with the bores, and distal end portions that can register into the drilled surgical openings.

This is a continuation-in-part application of prior, co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 07/830,243, filed Feb. 10, 1992, currentlypending, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/656,247, filed Feb. 14, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No.5,226,917 and incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to acetabular prosthetic devices and moreparticularly to an improved acetabular prosthesis (and method ofsurgically implanting), wherein the prosthesis has a cup or shell withan inner concave surface that has a mirror-like polished surface. Theshiny polished inner, concave surface faces a cup liner (eg. polymeric)so that relative motion between the liner and shell will generateminimal liner debris. The polished shell concave surface has a roughnessof preferably less than eight (8) micro inches. The body or shell caninclude radially extending bores therethrough that can be used as drillguides by a surgeon after the acetabular cup or shell has been placed inthe patient's acetabulum. Holes can be drilled surgically into theunderlying bone tissue using the drill guide openings so that one ormore pegs for improved anchoring can be placed into the bores andaffixed rigidly to the acetabular cup using an interference or wedgefit. The prosthesis (including cup or shell and rigidly affixed pegs) isthus anchored into the underlying surgical openings.

2. General Background

There are a number of commercially available acetabular prostheticdevices that include a cup shaped body. Some of these acetabular cupshave correspondingly shaped inner and outer concave and convex surfaces.Some devices have projections extending from the outer surface of thecup-shaped body. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,497 describes a socketfor a hip joint prosthesis which is secured to a cavity in the bonetissue by a series of radially arranged pegs which can be projectedoutwardly from the wall of the socket into the surrounding tissue by acentral screw which also has a self-tapping thread that enters thetissue.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,923 provides a hip joint socket made from a plasticsmaterial that can be installed without the use of bone cement oradhesive. The socket comprises a hemisphere of polyethylene. The socketmay have four bores extending skewed to the equatorial plane to permitthe surgeon to fix the socket in the acetabulum by means of screws ordowels temporarily or permanently. The primary anchoring is provided bytwo plugs or pins arranged on the outer surface of a socket. The pinsmay be substantially parallel to each other. The pins are inserted inbore holes drilled into the bone. The bore holes are drilled so that thepins are inserted under stress. A secondary anchor in the form of flapsare present near the actuarial plane of the socket. These flapssupplement the anchoring affect of the pins.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,337 an acetabular cup is provided which has ametallic anchoring shell. The cup is for cement-less fixation in theacetabulum. The shell has several holes through which screws are driveninto the bone. The screws have rounded heads and the holes arecountersunk so that the orientation of the screws may be varied withrespect to the cup and each other.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,565 there is provided a cotyliodal component fora non-cemented hip prosthesis. The component has two parts, a titaniumhemispherical shell and a cup of polymer which is engaged into it. Theshell has two zones, the first zone is covered with porous titaniumcapable of being invaded by spongy bone and also as two projectingpieces. The other zone has a smooth metal surface. Two screws passthrough the projecting pieces and are used to anchor the component inthe acetabulum.

Another acetabular cup for cement-less fixation in the acetabulum isdescribed in European Patent Application No. 13,863, published Jun. 8,1980. The cup is anchored to the bone by a central pin and a number ofother pins distributed over the surface of the cup. The pins haveseveral sawtooth notches along their length. The bone may be pre-drilledto take the pins.

European Patent Application No. 169,978 published May 2, 1986, describesan acetabular cup which has an outer shell embedded into the patient'spelvis. The outer shell has a frustro-conical skirt and a sphericalcentral cap. The shell has a number of small tufts with rounded endsprojecting from its surface. The tufts are embedded in the bone tissueto provide improved anchorage.

In European Patent Application No. 211,169 published Feb. 25, 1987, anacetabular cup is described in which an external boss protrudes from theouter surface of the acetabulum body to fit into a pre-drilled hole inthe acetabulum. The cup also has two anchoring lugs in the meridianplane. The lugs take screws to aid in anchoring the cup.

Other foreign patents and patent applications which describe acetabularcups include European Patent Application No. 212,087 published Apr. 3,1987, wherein metallic pins project from the surface of the cup andcontain holes in which tissue may grow. In European Patent No. 341,198published Nov. 8, 1989, an acetabular cup has a metal outer shell and aplastic body for retaining the hip joint head. The shell isfrustro-conical in cross-section with an opening at an apex and circularteeth around the outside. Three or more anchoring dowels parallel to theconvexes protrude from the outer surface of the shells. The dowels areslotted and provide with circular teeth of a sawtooth cross-section overthe portions which protrude. A central bolt may be fitted into the dowelto provide a rounded end.

The use of cement for fixation of acetabular process, and in some casesthe use of spacers, is found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,563,778, and 4,566,138.This concept of the use of bone cement and spacers is also seen inUnited Kingdom Patent Nos. 1,170,295 and 2,080,118.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,473, issued to Peter Griss et al., entitled"Hemispherical Acetabulum", relates to a hemispherical acetabulum havinga fixing pin which projects from the outside surface of the acetabulum.

In prior art acetabular cup prosthetic devices, the projections orspacers are often for the sole purpose of providing a space from thebone tissue that can be occupied by bone cement. Further, manyacetabular cup prosthetic devices carry projections on their outersurface which are a part of the prosthesis as constructed and whichcannot be added thereafter such as during surgery.

Still other prosthetic devices in the form of acetabular cups providepegs which must be affixed to the tissue before the acetabular cup isplaced in the position. Pegs which are preattached to the cup mayrequire predrilling or other preparation which includes impaction forthe purpose of forcing the projections into the bone. The bone bed mayrequire advance preparation in some devices to accept the protrusions.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved acetabular cup prosthesiswherein the prosthesis body has an inner concave surface and an outerconvex surface and an annular base that defines a base claim.

A polymeric cup liner registers and affixes to the cup body at theconcave surface portion.

The cup body concave surface has a polished mirror-like surface thatfaces the liner for retarding liner debris generation. The polishedsurface has a roughness of preferably less than eight (8) micro inches.This surface finish in its interior spherically shaped dome or concaveportion is the contact interface between the metallic shell and theacetabular polyethylene or polymer liner. The surface finish hasnumerous advantages.

First, it provides a low friction and low abrasion surface fordistributing the contact forces between the polyethylene liner (UHMWPE)and the shell. This reduces the abrasive generation of polyethylenedebris resulting from motion between the liner and shell.

This motion may come from a variety of mechanisms which include Poissonvolumetric distortion of the polyethylene resulting in localizedexpansion and contraction of the surface of the liner against the shellas a result of loading of the femoral head in the liner, and themicro-motion which occurs from forces from the femoral head pushing theliner within and around the confines of the shell interior.

The mirror finish allows the use of optical non-contact inspection ofthe interior of the shell surface for checking the geometric correctnessof the shell. The use of non-contact optical inspection methods allowcomplete checking of whole two and three dimensional surfaces at onetime. The usual method of optical three-dimensional inspection is toproject a regular pattern of light onto the surface which is to beinspected. The resultant two dimensional projection of the scene may beused to give highly accurate total surface measurement. Distortions inthe regular pattern indicate distortions in the part surface andindicate deviations from the desired part geometry. This method isineffective on highly smooth surfaces since the projected light of theregular pattern bounces off the measurement target and no twodimensional mapping is possible. In this device idea the highly smoothsurface (which is smooth due to the requirements of paragraph 1 above)is further polished to act as a reflective mirror. This surface mirrorthen is used as a lens to view a two-dimensional pattern such as a griddrawn on a white sheet of paper or a series of concentric rings.Distortions in the viewed image then are a result of distortions of thelens and hence the surface which is desired to be measured. It isthereby possible to inspect the highly smooth surface of the acetabulardevice due to this polishing.

The method of inspection may be both by trained human inspectors and byimage analysis performed by capturing the reflected image by a videocamera, digitizing the image, and using computer analysis to measure theamount of deviation of the pattern from the allowed surface geometrytolerance.

The advantages of this smooth and polished surface is therefore toprovide non-contact, and therefore non-destructive (non-scratching),measurement of the interior of an acetabular device. The inspectionmethods require a surface which allows a reflective resolutionsufficient to provide adequate reflective image quality for analysis.Our current inspection limits require a surface finish of less thaneight (8) micro-inches to accomplish this quality of resolution.

The cup body preferably includes openings surgeon after the cup has beenplaced in the patient'acetabulum. The present invention affords improvedfixation and stability of the component because pegs can be placed inthe acetabular cup after it has been placed in position by the surgeon.The pegs can be easily installed from the concave side of the acetabularcup component notwithstanding the fact that the acetabular cup componenthas already been placed in operative position in the patient'sacetabulum.

With the present invention, a multiplicity of pegs can be rigidlyattached to the acetabular cup prosthesis body for the purpose ofsecuring it in place in the acetabular bone. This can be done through anopening or bore which is interchangeably used for a desired peg.

With the present invention, the acetabular cup can be placed in it'sdesired position in the acetabulum by the surgeon. The pegs (asdescribed more fully herein) are then added to the cup body and attachedto the prosthesis in a rigid fashion. Each peg protrudes through theacetabular cup body and into the underlying bone tissue of theacetabulum to provide a mechanical locking of the acetabular cup(including pegs) into the pelvis. The surgeon can use a pre-drill beforeplacing the peg or spike wherein the opening or bore in the acetabularcup body functions as a drill guide. Pegs can be selectively placed sothat they are not aligned with each other but are at angles to eachother which aids in the mechanical stability of the acetabular cup body.

The apparatus preferably uses a plurality of pegs that feature a taperor wedge lock, barb lock, or knurl lock, to form an interference fit, orcompression friction lock, and a rigid connection with the acetabularcup at the drill guide openings. The interference fit assures a rigidconnection between peg and cup body so that each peg and cup body movetogether, rather that relative to one another. Relative motion causespossible contact between a peg and any polymer liner, creating theproblem of liner debris generation. The pegs are smooth along the distalportion thereof so that movement of the peg and cup as a unit will notdisrupt adjacent bone tissue.

The present invention thus provides an improved acetabular cupprosthesis that includes an acetabular cup body or shell component,having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface.

A plurality of openings extend between the inner and outer surfacesalong radial lines that can merge substantially near a center ofcurvature of the inner concave surface of the cup body, the openingsforming elongated bores surrounded by a bore wall portion of theacetabular cup body. The cup body or shell can be spherical in form, ornot spherical in form (such as e.g., an egg-shaped cup or shell).

The plurality of openings are positioned to define drill guides so thatduring a surgical implantation of the prosthesis, the surgeon canselectively drill into the underlying tissue through one or more of theopenings and form surgical openings therein in the underlying bonetissue.

There are preferably a plurality of peg members, each being insertableinto and registering with one or more of the openings in the prosthesisbody, the peg members having a first proximate end portion having meansthereon for forming a rigid connection with the acetabular cup body atone of the openings and with the bore wall, and a second smooth distalend portion adapted to extend into the underlying tissue (e.g., intosurgically formed openings) after the cup body has been implanted in apatient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the presentinvention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like partsare given like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a first embodiment of the apparatusof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the apparatus ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 4-4A are fragmentary views of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-5C are bottom, side, and top views of peg portion of the firstembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A-6C are bottom, side, and top views of another peg as used withthe first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A-7C are bottom, side, and top views of a spike member as usedwith the first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are peg members used with the first embodiment ofthe apparatus of the present invention including respectively threadlock, barb lock, taper lock, and knurl lock embodiments thereof;

FIGS. 12A-12D are top views of locking pin members used with the taperlocking embodiment of the spike;

FIG. 13 is a perspective fragmentary view of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention illustrating the peg locking screwportion thereof;

FIG. 14 is a perspective fragmentary view illustrating an interface ofthe peg locking screw with one of the pegs of FIGS. 5A-5C;

FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view illustrating the peg of FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second and preferred embodiment ofthe apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view illustrating a peg member used with thesecond embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary view illustrating the closure member portion ofthe second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the secondembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a another fragmentary sectional view illustrating the secondembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a another fragmentary sectional view illustrating the cupportion of the second embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention illustrating the cup and cup linerconnection;

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of the grid used to inspect the polishedsurface for distortions;

FIG. 24 is a second embodiment of a test grid pattern used to inspectthe highly polished surface portion of the acetabular cup prosthesis ofthe present invention;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of a test grid showing no surfacedefects; and

FIG. 26 is schematic diagram showing local defects for a polishedsurface that has been inspected using the grid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 there can be seen a sectional view of the first embodiment ofthe apparatus of the present invention designated generally by thenumeral 10. In FIG. 1, there can be seen a hip prosthesis member 11mounted in a femur 12 of a patient. The hip prosthesis 11 includes anupper ball portion 13 that registers with the acetabular prostheticapparatus 10 of the present invention.

The acetabular prosthesis 10 includes a cup or shell prosthesis body 14,preferably of a metallic material with a plastic liner 15 portion. Themetallic cup body 14 includes an inner concave surface 16 and an outerconvex surface 17. The surfaces 16, 17 are spaced apart, defining thethickness of the cup or shell 14. The cup body 14 provides athree-dimensional surface that is sintered to the outside surface 17(such as sintered beads). The inside 17 is then machined aftersintering. Another type of roughened outer surface 17 could be providedsuch as plasma sprayed metal, plasma sprayed hydroxyl apatite, or amechanically textured or roughened surface. The shell or cup body 14could have an exterior surface optimized for use with bone cement.

A plurality of openings 18 in form of preferably elongated bores extendbetween the inner concave surface 16 and the outer convex surface 17.These openings are in the form of bores having a bore wall 19 as seen inFIG. 3. The openings 18 can function as drill guides for the surgeon.Therefore, once the metallic cup body 14 portion of the acetabular cupprosthesis 10 is placed in position in the patient's acetabulum as shownin FIG. 1, the surgeon can simply drill through any one of the pluralityof bores forming an opening in the underlying bone tissue designatedgenerally be the numeral 20.

When the surgeon places the cup body 14 in the position shown in FIG. 1,the plurality of bores 18 can act as a drill guide for the surgeon. Thebore 19 walls of each opening 18 define a cylindrically shaped guide fora correspondingly sized drill. These openings allow the surgeon to formsurgical openings in the underlying bone tissue 20.

A selected surgically formed opening 18 is then occupied by a peg (andnot necessarily each opening 18), such as one of the pegs 25-29, as seenin FIGS. 1-3 and 4A. In the preferred embodiment, each of the pegs 25-29extends into the bone tissue at a different angular position withrespect to the other pegs to provide a rigid anchor for the cup 14. Pegs25-29 can be polymer, metal, or resorbable polymer.

Once the pegs 25-28 are placed into operative position, a strongconnection is formed between the outer surface of each peg 25-28 and thewalls 19 of each opening or bore 18. In FIGS. 5A-5C, 6A-6C, 7A-7C, and8-11, various embodiments of the pegs, their respective attachments tothe cup body 14 are illustrated.

In FIG. 8, peg 25A includes a proximate end portion 31 and a distal endportion 38A and a central longitudinal axis 34. A smaller diametersection 33 connects with a larger diameter section 32 that is coveredwith an external spiralling thread 39. The thread 39 bites into andinterfaces with the cup body 14 at the wall 19 of each opening 18. Theopening or bore 18 wall 19 can also be internally threaded to engage thethread 39.

In FIG. 9, peg 25B is provided with a proximate end 31, a distal end 34,a smaller diameter section 33, and a larger diameter section 32 thatcarries a plurality of annular barb rings 40. When the peg 25B is forcedinto the opening 18, the barbs 40 form a tight fit with the cup body 14at the wall 19 of each opening 18.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 10, 11, and 15, pegs 25C, 25D provide aproximate, larger diameter 41 end portion, a smaller generallycylindrical distal end portion 44, and a transitional frustro-conicalsection 42, and a curved end 43. Similarly, peg 25D has a proximate,larger diameter 45 portion, a curved annular transition section 46, asmaller and generally cylindrical section 47, and a curved end portion48.

The large diameter section 41 and the frustro-conical portion 42 canalso be seen in FIG. 15 in a partial sectional view. The larger diameterand frustro-conical sections 41, 42 surround an internally threaded bore68 which accepts set screw 30. The screw 30 is sized to expand theenlarged 41 and frustro-conical 42 sections slightly when the peg 25C isplaced in position within one of the bores 18 which would be similar inshape to the outside surface of frustro-conical portion 42 and enlargedportion 41.

When the set screw 30 is fully threaded into the threaded opening 68, sothat the external thread 67 of the set screw 30 engages the internalthread 68 of the bore, a taper lock connection or interference fit isformed between the peg 25C and the wall 19 of opening 18. Internalthreads 68 in FIG. 15 can also be used as an extraction or holding meansfor placing and removing the peg 25c. Peg 25c would be used then withouta screw 30.

The set screw 30 can have different tooled sockets, as shown in FIGS.12A-12D. In FIG. 12A, a set screw 30A includes a square tooled socket63. In FIG. 12B, the set screw 30B has a X-shaped slot 64 for receivinga Phillips-type screwdriver, for example. In FIG. 12C, the set screw 30Chas a single transverse slot 65 and in the embodiment of FIG. 12B, theset screw 30B has an hexagonal tool socket 66. Other tooled socketscould be employed.

In FIGS. 4-4A, the pegs 25C can be shown extending from the convex 17surface of cup body 14 and into a surgically formed opening 70 which isformed by the drill that penetrates the opening 18. In such a situation,the surgeon simply uses the opening 18 as a drill guide for a similarlyshaped drill when forming surgical opening 70.

In FIGS. 5A-5C, an alternate construction of the peg is illustrated,designated generally by the numeral 50A. Peg 50A includes a rounded orhemispherical distal end portion 51 and a proximate end portion 52 thatincludes a pair of longitudinally extending slots 49, forming four pegsections 55.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 6A-6C, the peg 50B provides a hemisphericaldistal tip 51 and a single longitudinally extending transverse slot 49forming two peg sections 55. Enlarged annular shoulder 53 and smallerdiameter recess 54 are also provided in each of the embodiments of FIGS.5A-5C and 6A-6C.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7C, a spike-shaped peg 56 is providedhaving a pointed tip portion 57, and a plurality of beveled surfaces 58that connect with a cylindrical peg body portion that includes anenlarged annular section 60 and a smaller diameter constricted section59. The proximate 61 end portion of the peg includes a longitudinallyextending Y-shaped slot 62, as seen in FIGS. 7B and 7C.

FIGS. 16-22 illustrate a second and preferred embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral70. Acetabular cup apparatus 70 includes a cup body 71 to which can beremovably affixed a plastic cup liner 72 made of polyethylene forexample. Liner 72 has an inner concave surface 73 and an external convexsurface 74. Liner 72 is in the form of a hemispherical member having anannular base 75 with a plurality of curved members extending around theperiphery of liner 72 at base 75 and which interface with a similarlyshaped circumferentially recess formed on cup body 71 to preventrotation of liner 72 with respect to body 71.

The cup body 71 is preferably metallic having an annular base 76 thatdefines a plane. The cup body 71 has an inner concave surface 77 and anexternal convex surface 78. The cup body 71 concave surface 77 is ashiny polished surface that faces the convex surface 74 of polymericliner 72. The polished concave surface 77 has a roughness of less thansixteen (16) micro-inches, and preferably about eight (8) micro-inches.Such a highly polished surface 77 appears mirror-like. The polishedconcave surface 77 inhibits polymer liner debris generation.

External surface 78 can be covered with a plurality of small metallicbeads or the like forming a bone ingrowth surface 79. The apex 80 of cupbody 71 has a through opening 81 that has an internal thread 82 forattachment thereto of a tool for inserting and/or removing the cup body71 from its position in the acetabular bone tissue of a patient.

A plurality of four openings 84, 85, 86 and 87 are provided preferablyin one quadrant 88 of cup body 71. Each opening 84-87 has an internalopening configuration that includes a larger diameter generallycylindrically shaped opening portion 91 and a smaller diameter openingportion 92 (FIG. 20). The larger and smaller diameter sections 91, 92are interfaced by an annular shoulder 93. The smaller diameter section92 can be tapered from a point of maximum diameter adjacent annularshoulder 93 to a point of minimal diameter adjacent the annular shoulder89. A second larger diameter cylindrical section 90 meets outer edge 94of each opening 84-87.

Pegs 95 can be selectively fitted into any one of the openings 84-87during use. Each peg 95 has a tapered section 96 that includes a largerdiameter circular base 97 defining a proximate end portion of peg 95.Distal end portion 98 of peg 95 is generally cylindrical and smooth, andincludes a curved or hemispherical smooth tip 99.

In FIG. 20 force arrows are used to demonstrate that the above-describedconnection between each peg 95 and the cup body 71 is a substantiallyrigid connection that produces load transfer between each peg member andthe cup body of tension loads, compression loads, axial torsion loads,and bending moment loading. Thus, the peg 95 does not rotate nor backout with respect to the opening 85-87.

The force arrow 117 is an angled force having both a bending forcecomponent (Fb) designated as 118 and a compression force component (Fc)designated as 119. The force arrows 120 and 124 show shear forces at theinterface between peg 95 and cup body 71 at a selected opening 84-87.The force arrows 121A,B are force arrows that are resisting the shearforces and the force arrows 122A,B are resisting bending forces.

A closure member 100 is shown in FIG. 18-19 and includes a largersection 101 and a smaller diameter section 102. Annular shoulder 103forms an interface between the larger 101 and smaller 102 diametersections. Closure member 101 has an enlarged circular base 104 definingits proximate end portion during use and a smaller circular flat distalend 105

The larger diameter section 101 of closure member 100 can have a beveledannular wall 106 for forming a wedge type fit with the larger diametersection 91 of a particular selected opening 84-87. In this manner, theclosure member 100 can be placed in any one of the selected openings84-87 and pressed into the selected opening 84-87 by the user even afterthe cup body 71 has been placed into operative position. The user simplypresses the closure member 100 into one of the selected openings 84-87by accessing the cup body 71 from the concave 77 side.

The surgeon can close any one of the selected openings 84-87 using theclosure member 100 after the cup body 71 has been placed in the desiredoperative position and anchored into position using one or more of thepegs 95. The closure member 100 may be placed in the shell 71 beforeimplantation, such as during manufacturing, and then selectively removedby the surgeon before use of the shell 71. Each closure member 100occupies a position in its selected opening 84-87 and between the convex78 and concave 77 surfaces of shell or cup body 71.

Each of the openings 84-87 has a generally cylindrical smaller diametersection 92 that can act as a drill guide for the surgeon so that drilledopenings can be made into the underlying bone tissue after theacetabular cup body 71 has been placed into position. This allows one ormore pegs to be placed into one or more of the selected openings 84-87.Any of the selected openings 84-87 that are not selected can be pluggedusing the closure member 100 This prevents the flow of the polyethyleneliner into any of the openings 84-87 that are not occupied by a peg 95.The closure member 100 friction fits into the above-mentioned largerdiameter portion 91 of the openings 84-87.

In FIG. 22, the connection between cup 71 and liner 72 is illustratedwith greater detail. Liner 72 can be rotated as shown by arrows 107 inFIG. 16 until the raised portion 75A of base 75 is in a selectedposition. The liner 70 is then fitted to the cup 71 by engaging theannular recess 116 of the cup 71 with the annular corrugated shoulder108 of the liner 72. Shoulder 108 has an inclined annular shoulder thatforms an acute angle of between about eighty and eighty five degreeswith the flat upper surface 111 of annular base 75 of liner 72.

The surface 111 is flat so as to register with the surface of base 76 ofcup 71. The numeral 112 in FIG. 22 designates the angle between surface111 and inclined annular wall 109. A recess 116 has a correspondingshape and size to the annular corrugated shoulder 108. The angle 113formed between inner inclined annular surface 114 and annular surface115 is the same angular measure as angle 112.

This configuration of annular shoulder 108 and recess 116 provides asnap or interference fit between the liner shoulder 108 and the cup 71at recess 116 which helps secure the liner 72 to the cup 71 during use.

FIGS. 23-26 illustrate grid charts 200, 205 that can be drawn on a whitesheet of paper for example and used to inspect the highly polished innerconcave surface 16 of acetabular cup body 14 for defects. In FIG. 23, agrid 200 is in the form of a plurality of concentric rings 201, 202,203, etc. A central opening 204 allows the user to visually inspect theinside surface 16 of the cup body 14 when the flat grid 200 is placed ontop of the cup body 14 with the print of chart 200 facing the mirrorlike polished concave surface 16. In this fashion, the user simply viewsthe lined pattern of the concentric rings 201-203 of grid chart 200facing the off the mirror surface of the inside, concave surface 16 ofthe cup body 14.

In FIG. 24, a generally rectangularly shaped test grid 205 is shown. InFIG. 25, a reflective pattern for the test grid 205 is shown as pattern206, showing no defects. In FIG. 26, another test grid patternreflection 207 is shown that notes two local defects 208, 209.

FIG. 23 illustrates a method of inspection that may be by trained humaninspectors, simply looking through the central opening 204. When suchhuman inspection is employed, the inspector simply looks through theopening 204 when the grid chart 200, 205 is placed against the concave16 side of acetabular cup body 14.

Another method of inspection may be by image analysis performed bycapturing the reflected image with a video camera, digitizing the imageand using computer analysis to measure the amount of deviation of thepattern from the allowed surface geometry tolerance. Thus, the surface16 defines a mirror that is used as a lens to view a two dimensionalpattern such as the grid patterns 200, 205 drawn for example on a whitesheet of paper. Distortions in the viewed image are then a result ofdistortions of the lens surface 16 and hence the surface which isdesired to be measured.

The following Table 1 lists part numbers and corresponding pardescriptions as used herein and in the drawings:

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        PARTS LIST                                                                    PART NUMBER   PART DESCRIPTION                                                ______________________________________                                         10           acetabular cup apparatus                                         11           hip prosthesis member                                            12           femur                                                            13           ball portion                                                     14           cup body                                                         15           plastic liner                                                    16           inner concave surface                                            17           outer convex surface                                             18           openings                                                         19           bore wall                                                        20           bone tissue                                                      25-29        pegs                                                             25A-D        pegs                                                             30           set screw                                                        31           proximate end                                                    32           larger diameter section                                          33           smalller diameter section                                        34           longitudinal axis                                                38           distal end                                                       38A          distal end                                                       39           thread                                                           40           annular barb rings                                               41           larger diameter end                                              42           frustro-conical section                                          43           curved end                                                       44           distal end portion                                               45           larger diameter end                                              46           transition section                                               47           smaller diameter section                                         48           curved portion                                                   49           slot                                                             50A          peg                                                              51           hemispherical end                                                52           proximate end                                                    53           annular shoulder                                                 54           annular recess                                                   55           peg sections                                                     56           peg                                                              57           pointed tip                                                      58           beveled surface                                                  59           smaller diameter section                                         60           annular shoulder                                                 61           proximate end                                                    62           slot                                                             70           acetabular cup apparatus                                         71           cup body                                                         72           cup liner                                                        73           concave surface                                                  74           convex surface                                                   75           annular base                                                     75A          raised portion                                                   76           annular base                                                     77           concave surface                                                  78           convex surface                                                   79           bone ingrowth surface                                            80           apex                                                             81           opening                                                          82           threaded portion                                                 84           opening                                                          85           opening                                                          86           opening                                                          87           opening                                                          88           quadrant                                                         89           shoulder                                                         90           larger diameter cylindrical section                              91           larger diameter cylindrical section                              92           smaller diameter section                                         93           annular shoulder                                                 94           annular edge                                                     95           peg                                                              96           tapered section                                                  97           base                                                             98           distal end of peg                                                99           hemispherical tip                                               100           closure member                                                  101           larger diameter section                                         102           smaller diameter section                                        103           annular shoulder                                                104           larger base                                                     105           distal end of closure member                                    106           beveled annular wall                                            107           curved arrow                                                    108           annular corrugated shoulder                                     109           angled annular sidewall                                         110           upper flat surface                                              111           upper surface of annular base                                   112           angle                                                           113           angle                                                           114           inner inclined annular surface                                  115           annular surface                                                 116           annular recess                                                  117           force arrow                                                     118           force component, bending                                        119           force component, compression                                    120           force arrow, shear                                              121A,B        force arrows                                                    122A,B        force arrows                                                    123           force arrows                                                    124           force arrow, shear                                              125           force arrows, torsion                                           200           circular grid pattern chart                                     201           concentric ring                                                 202           concentric ring                                                 203           concentric ring                                                 204           central opening                                                 205           rectangular grid pattern chart                                  206           reflective pattern-test grid                                    207           reflective pattern-test grid                                    208           defect                                                          209           defect                                                          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Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within thescope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because manymodifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed inaccordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to beunderstood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as invention is:
 1. An acetabular cup prosthesis,comprising:a) an acetabular cup body having an inner concave surface, anouter convex surface for engaging a patient's acetabulum, and an annularbase that defines a base plane; b) a polymeric cup liner that lines thecup body at the cup body concave surface during use, the liner havingconvex and concave surfaces, the concave surface defining anarticulating surface that is positioned to receive and articulate with aball of a prosthesis hip stem, and the convex surface defining anon-articulating surface that is positioned on the opposite side of theliner from the concave surface; c) wherein the cup body concave surfacehas polished inner surface means that faces the convex side of liner forretarding inner debris generation, and including a polished surfacehaving a roughness of less than eight (8) micro-inches.
 2. Theacetabular cup prosthesis of claim further comprising an array ofopenings over the cup body and a plurality of peg members removablyconnectable with the cup body at the openings.
 3. The acetabular cupprosthesis of claim 2 wherein each of the openings defines a smoothwalled bore.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the bore defines a drillguide.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shell has inner andouter concave and convex surfaces that are of corresponding curvature.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the openings has agenerally cylindrically shaped bore portion.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the elongated bores include a generally cylindrical portionand a generally frustro-conical portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the plurality of peg members are each generally cylindricallyshaped in configuration.
 9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein theplurality of peg members include a proximal section of larger diameterand a distal section of smaller diameter.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the acetabular cup body is of a metallic material at the bores.11. An acetabular cup prosthesis, comprising:a) an acetabular cup bodyhaving an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface; b) apolymeric cup liner that registers with and affixes to the cup body atthe cup body concave surface, the liner having convex and concavesurfaces, the concave surface defining an articulating surface that ispositioned to receive and articulate with a ball of a prosthesis hipstem, and the convex surface defining a non-articulating surface that ispositioned on the opposite side of the liner from the concave surface;c) a plurality of openings that extend between the inner and outersurfaces of the cup body along lines that are not parallel, the openingsforming elongated bores surrounded by a bore wall portion of theacetabular cup body; d) one or more peg members, each being insertableinto and registering respectively with one of the openings, each pegmember having a first proximate end portion having means thereon forforming a substantially rigid connection with the acetabular cup body atone of the openings and with the bore wall that enables load transferbetween the cup body and peg members without substantial rotational ortranslational movement between the cup body and each peg member, and asecond distal end portion adapted to extend into the underlying tissueafter the cup body has been implanted in a patient; and e) wherein thecup body concave surface has polished inner surface means that faces theconvex, non-articulating side of the liner for retarding liner debrisgeneration, and including a polished mirror surface.
 12. The acetabularcup prosthesis of claim 1 or 11 wherein the polished inner surface meansis a mirror-like surface having a roughness of less than eight (8) microinches.
 13. The acetabular cup prosthesis of claim 1 further comprisinggrid means for inspecting the polished inner surface for defects. 14.The acetabular cup prosthesis of claim 11 further comprising grid meansfor inspecting the polished inner surface for defects.
 15. Theacetabular cup prosthesis of claim 13 or 14 wherein the grid means is agrid comprised of a plurality of concentric rings.
 16. The acetabularprosthesis of claim 1 or 11 wherein the polymer liner is polyethylene.17. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 13 wherein the surface mirrordefines a lens to view the grid.
 18. The acetabular cup prosthesis ofclaim 1 or 11 wherein the polished inner surface has a roughness of lessthan four (4) micro inches.
 19. The acetabular cup prosthesis of claim 1or 11 wherein the polished inner surface has a roughness of between one(1) and four (4) micro inches.
 20. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 14wherein the surface mirror defines a lens to view the grid.
 21. Theacetabular cup prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the polished surface is apolished mirror surface.